MORGAN PARK — Andrea Zopp has officially held her new job as Chicago's deputy mayor for just three days, yet she was asked to expound on her role Thursday at Morgan Park High School.
Zopp, a Morgan Park resident, was the featured speaker for Career Day at the neighborhood high school at 1744 W. Pryor Ave. She was interviewed by a pair of students in a packed auditorium.
"Keep a sense of humor, and don't be afraid to fail," Zopp told the students gathered for the assembly.
She also reflected a bit on her unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate, as well as her days working as a lawyer. She then detailed her previous position as president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Urban League.
In fact, she said her new role with the city feels similar to her days at the Urban League. There, she focused on community building in Chicago's predominantly black neighborhoods. She spoke passionately about the group, including reminiscing about a cultural exchange program between students in Chicago and China.
Zopp shares the deputy mayor title with Steve Koch, who has served in the role since 2012. Koch will continue to oversee economic affairs for the city, including responsibility for the city’s financial team and attracting corporate headquarters.
Meanwhile, Zopp aims to help Mayor Rahm Emanuel make strategic investments in areas outside of Downtown. The goal of these targeted projects is to have a major impact in otherwise struggling areas, she said.
"We too often feel like this is two cities. The city on the North Side, and one city on the South and West Side," Zopp said.
Zopp is a native of Rochester, N.Y. but has lived in Morgan Park since May 1996. She and her husband, Bill, raised their three children near Clissold Elementary School, where Zopp once served on the Local School Council.
She said her time in the Beverly area has shown her the value of diversity, a vibrant retail corridor, strong schools, thriving small businesses and a mix of housing stock. This successful combination gives residents a sense of pride, which is often lacking in underperforming neighborhoods, Zopp said.
"Beverly continues to be, for me, a model — not the model, but a model — of a successful community," Zopp said.
She also shared her experience as a minority woman in a professional workplace, saying she was occasionally viewed as an interrupter rather than a lawyer in her early days in court.
"The biggest lesson I can say to you when dealing with prejudice is try not to spend too much time being angry," said Zopp, adding that while such feelings are often justified, they can also hold a successful person back.
She also told students that it's fine to enroll in college without a clear career path, as lesser-known jobs tend to reveal themselves over time. Taking a year or so to figure things out is perfectly acceptable, Zopp said.
Finally, Zopp reminded students at Morgan Park High School — 76 percent of whom are headed to college — of an important lesson she learned both in school and in life.
"Don't be afraid to ask for help. Everybody needs help," she said.
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